Joyce Marie Garner Sanderson

Joyce Marie Garner Sanderson, 91, affectionately known as “Granny” by many, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at Carteret Health Care in Morehead City.

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., on Friday January 31, 2025, at Munden Funeral Home.

Born on July 24, 1933, to the late Percy and Veta Norman Garner, Joyce grew up with a heart full of kindness and a dedication to caring for others. A devoted Registered Nurse, she spent much of her career at Carteret General Hospital, retiring in 1998 to lovingly care for her grandsons, Jamison and Bryson Willis.

Joyce had an adventurous spirit, traveling across the country with her beloved siblings, creating cherished memories along the way. A lover of games, she was known for her prowess at bingo, often juggling multiple cards with skill and enthusiasm well into her final days. In quieter moments, she found joy in reading mystery novels, solving crossword puzzles, tackling word searches, and playing Solitaire on her phone. Her days often included watching her favorite TV shows, Law & Order: SVU and The Sopranos.

Above all, Joyce’s greatest joy was her family. She had an unshakable pride in her granddaughter, Melodie, and her husband, Brinkley, as well as her great-grandsons, Jamison and Bryson. She was a constant source of love and support, always ready to celebrate their accomplishments and share their stories. Her unwavering devotion and generosity touched the hearts of everyone who knew her.

Joyce’s memory will be cherished by her granddaughter, Melodie Willis, and husband Brinkley of Morehead City; her great-grandsons, Jamison Willis and Bryson Willis of Morehead City; her brother, Larry Garner (Nancy); and a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family members. 

She is reunited in eternal peace with her daughter, Kay Sanderson Gillikin; her son-in-law, Mike Gillikin; her grandson, Jeremy Gillikin; her sister, Joan Riggs; and her brothers, Percy Garner and Prentiss Garner.

In honor of Joyce’s compassionate spirit, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made to the Hearing Charities of America, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, or Crystal Bluffs of Morehead City, NC, in lieu of flowers.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net.

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory in Morehead City, NC.